The success that LSU has enjoyed over the past 10 years has really hurt our attendance. Back in the 70's, LSU was usually nothing more than a middle of the pack SEC team. I think that some of the casual fans that attended Cajuns' games back then are now going to Baton Rouge instead. Selling a middle of the pack SBC team over an SEC team, one that is regularly ranked in the top 10, is tough.
I was a freshman in 77. We didn't play the big name teams, but we were winning. For homecoming vs Ark State, we had over 30,000. Lafayette & UL are twice the size now. We've been only average to below average since then. We have a huge upside potential that has never been realized. We have no idea what can be accomplished here. It's time. It's time to shell it out and bring in that new coach that knows how to win and has some fire. Then Lafayette will look like New Orleans last year when the Saints got rolling.
You're argument is still that a new coach will automatically bring higher attendance. But that wasn't true when Bustle was hired. In fact his first two years were his worst attendance-wise. Remember when we were worried about being kicked out of D1-A because of their min 15,000 attendance requirement?
The 19,411 average we have had so far is actually above average for the Ricky Bustle era (not to mention the Cajun Field era).
So I don't see how you can say Bustle as coach is hurting attendance and that a new coach will automatically increase attendance because the numbers flat out prove otherwise.
Bustle Era Attendance (17,444) Average
2002 3-2-0 75,279 (15,056)
2003 3-3-0 83,970 (13,995)
2004 3-2-0 107,006 (21,401)
2005 3-2-0 87,957 (17,591)
2006 3-3-0 90,519 (15,087)
2007 1-5-0 99,904 (16,651)
2008 4-1-0 107,342 (21,468)
2009 4-2-0 111,998 (18,666)
Still another interpretation on the average attendance numbers then v. now misses a key component. Opposing visitor attendance.
Here is one area that the rest of our conference flat out sucks at. Very disappointed by states and MT's attendance and I expect even less from WKy and FIU.
We're at least doing our part filling two sections at NT and probably having Cajun Field North on our satellite campus.
But this conference just doesn't travel.
igeaux.mobi
I'm pretty sure I don't need you to tell me what my argument is, I don't know if you are bustle's wife or what but give it up. It's time for him to go! Stop telling everyone we should be proud of a game that we didn't even cover the 24 point spread at home. Oh and by the way watch what will happen to basketball attendance in marlins first year
igeaux.mobi
Oops. Nevermind.
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